TBN 678-0

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Firecracker Cake

Summer will be here before we know it! With that comes Memorial Day, graduation parties, my birthday, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, family trips to the beach, picnics in the park, barbecues in the backyard ... you notice how many activities revolve around family, friends and food?!?

This Firecracker Cake is the perfect summer dessert. It looks fancy (like it took a lot of work), but it really couldn't be easier! People will "ooh and aah" and ask who brought/made this cake ... then want a copy of the recipe!

*** I personally prefer to use 1 oz. Wilton Icing Colors which may be picked up at your local big box craft store. I think the colors are more vibrant, however, you may use the regular ol' food coloring if you have it on hand. I get the "Red - No Taste". Add just enough coloring to get desired shade of red and blue.

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease a 12-cup fluted tube cake pan. Make cake batter as directed on box, using water, oil and egg whites. Pour 1 cup of the batter into a small bowl; stir in red food coloring until well mixed. Pour another cup of the batter into a separate bowl; stir in blue food color until well mixed.

Pour red cake batter into bottom of pan. Carefully pour remaining white batter over red batter in pan. Carefully pour blue batter over white batter. (The blue batter does not need to cover the white batter completely, it looks better if it just forms a ring in the center of the white batter.) When you add the batter to the pan, do not mix with a spoon. Just pour it in so the colors don't mix but rather, just rest on top of each other in the pan.

When cake is cool, divide the frosting evenly into 3 microwavable bowls. Microwave 1 bowl of frosting uncovered on HIGH a few seconds until smooth enough to drizzle over cake. With spoon, drizzle all of the 1st bowl of microwaved frosting all over the cake, back and forth around the cake in a striping pattern. Repeat microwaving second bowl of frosting until smooth. Stir in a few drops of the blue food coloring until well blended. Drizzle over cake, scattering back and forth. Repeat with remaining frosting and red food coloring, making sure red, white and blue can be seen on the cake. Sprinkle with red, white and blue sprinkles, if desired. Let cake stand at room temperature until frosting is set before serving.

Store loosely covered at room temperature.

The great thing about this cake, you can adjust the colors to fit whatever holiday or occasion - for Easter, use 3 pastel colors ... For Christmas, use white, green and red ... Halloween, white, orange and black or candy corn colors - orange, yellow and white! You could use varying shade of blue or pink for an ombre effect for a baby shower or birthday ... the possibilities are endless!

I love how easy this cake is, it is perfect for the 4th of July. It also looks really good. I would love if you would share this and any other posts at Showcase Your Talent Thursday http://whatscookinglove.blogspot.com/2012/04/showcase-your-talent-thursday-4.html. I hope to see you there!

I just love your Firecracker Cake, perfect for the upcoming holidays. Your recipe looks awesome. Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.Come Back Soon!Miz Helen

I know what I am making for the 4th! Thanks so much for sharing this festive cake on Fabulous Friday. I'm so happy that you were able to come. I hope to see you back next week too. I am enjoying what you bring! xoxox

Wow!!!! What a great cake! It's perfect for this weekend. Thank you for sharing on Thursday's Treasures Week 35. Hope to see you again next Thursday. <3 and hugs! http://www.recipesformyboys.com/2012/05/thursdays-treasures-week-35.html

Hi My name is Nann and I found your blog by accident and so glad I did. It is just delightful and I am now following you. I would be thrilled and honored if you would drop by my blog and follow me if you like. Believe me I love to cook and this recipe is going to be at the top of my list for the 4th of July. Thanks for sharing.

I am blown away! What an adorable, amazing, awesome, patriotic cake....I just LOVE it! Would sooo love for you to link this up at our Weekend Potluck, opening for links on Friday this week. Please come on over to www.thebetterbaker.blogspot.com. I am SO impressed!! =D

Hi Jamie. Thank you for sharing this with us during Our Little Family Adventure's Community Party and helping me celebrate my birthday. I hope you'll join us again this Friday for another Community Party www.facebook.com/ourlittlefamilyadventure

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